Flame producing mechanism



Dec. 7, 1937. 1.. v. ARONSON FLAME PRODUCING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 25, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR liozzis VAronsan BY 04 41, QM $24. ATTORN Y5 Patented Dec. 7, 1937 PATENT OFFICE 2,101,125 7 FLAME PRODUCING MECHANISM Louis V. Aronson, Newark, N. J., assignor to Art Metal Works, Inc., a corporation of New Jersey Application October 25, 1934, Serial No. 749,903

15 Claims.

My invention relates to flame-producing mechanism of the ,type embodying pyrophoric means for producing sparks which ignite the fuel.

My invention relates to novel mechanism of the character stated which may effectively be operated by a manual act to ignite a charge of fuel disposed at the end of a wand, torch-forming member or the like.

Various other objects, advantages and characteristics of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.

My invention resides in the flame-producing mechanism, features, combinations and arrangements of the character hereinafter described and claimed.

For an understanding of my invention and for an illustration of one of the many forms thereof, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of flame-producing mechanism as constructed in accordance withmy invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view showing the mechanism with the torch-forming member in operative position;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fi 1; Fig. 4 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, showing the parts in an operated relation;

Fig. 6 is'a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, and is taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a part of the operating mechanism shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Referring particularly to Fig. 4, I represents a casing wall which, preferably, defines a circular chamber although, obviously, said chamber may be of any other suitable configuration. As illustrated, the wall I is embraced by a lower skirt section which may be formed from members 2 and 3 suitably secured to each other and to said wall I. Preferably, the interior space defined by the members 2 and 3 is partially or entirely filled by suitable heavy material such as lead, solder or the like, not shown.

Disposed interiorly of and suitably secured to the interior surface of the casing wall I are a pair of spaced walls 4 and 5 which, together with the enclosed section of said wall I, define a fuel casing adapted to receive a supply of high test gasoline or othersuitable fuel. Such fuel may be introduced into said fuel casing upon removal of a closure cap 6 which may be threaded into an opening formed in the lower wall 5 and, preferably, the fuel casing contains a mass 1 of cotton or similar material utillzable for absorbing the 5 fuel.

As shown in Fig. 4, the upper wall 4, adjacent the periphery thereof, is provided with an internally threaded passage 8 which receives the externally threaded section 911 of a tubular mem- 10 her 9, the lower section of which depends into the aforesaid fuel casing, said lower tubular section being provided with one or more apertures or slots 9b. The tubular member 9 extends upwardly through an opening provided in the top 15 wall III of the casing I, the upper section of said member 9 having an encircling sleeve I I threaded thereto whereby it is firmly anchored in position.

Extending through the fuel casing is a tubular member I2 which is open at both ends and suitably secured to the top and bottom walls I and 5 of said fuel casing, the member I2 being disposed vertically and the longitudinal axis thereof preferably being disposed substantially in alinement with the longitudinal axis of the casing I which, in the example shown, defines a circular chamber.

The upper end of the tubular member I 2 is shaped to form a seat In for the bevelled surface I 3a of a tubular standard I8, the lower section of which extends downwardly interiorly of the tubular member I2. A nut I4, threaded to the extreme lower end of the standard I3, is adapted to coact with the bottom casing wall 5 whereby the bevelled surface I311 is held in engagement with the seat I2a to thereby securely anchor the standard I3 in upright position.

A tubular member I5 is disposed, in freely slidable relation, interiorly of the standard I3, this member being biased in an upward'direction by 40 a helical spring IGa. which is disposed interiorly of the standard I3 and said member I5 in the manner shown in Fig. 4. The member I5 comprises an upper stem I5a which terminates above the top wall I6 of a casing II, the extreme upper end of said stem I5a having a pinion I8 fixed thereto so as to be immovable with respect thereto. Loosely disposed on the stem I So is a sleeve I9 which has a spiral slot lam formed in the circular wall thereof in the manner clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This sleeve I9 should be immovably secured to the top casing wall I8 or, preferably and as shown, said sleeve I9 may be formed integrally with said casing wall I6. The stem lie is provided with a slot lib, Fig. 7,

28 which is anchored transversely in the umer end of the standard l3, said member 29 also extending through the slot No. In order-that the operation may be effected as hereinafter described, the top casing wall III is provided with a passage [90 of-larger diameter than that of the casing il so that the latter may be reciprocated freely in a vertical direction.

Supported on the casing wail I6 is an abutment 2| which comprises an extension arm 2la adapted to receive one end of a vertical member 22 supported at its other end in said casing wall l6. Freely rotatable on the member 22 is a pinion 23 which meshes with the aforesaid pinion l8 of the stem lid. The pinion 23 comprises an upper circular ratchet section 24 which meshes with a corresponding circular ratchet section 25 pyrophoric element 29 which is biased into engagement therewith in any suitable manner. In accordance with a preferred form of the invention, there is utilized for this purpose an arm :38 which is pivoted on a member 31 upstanding from the casing wall IS, a spring 32 which is "coiled around the hub of the arm 38 serving to bias said arm in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 3. The end of the arm 39 is so disposed in a slot 2lb formed in the abutment 2| that it en-' gages the pyrophoric element 29. Accordingly,

under the influence of the spring 32, the arm 30 is caused to engage the pyrophoric element 29 whereby the latter, with the desired degree of pressure, is held in engagement with the periphery of the serrated wheel-28 The hereinbefore described tubular member 9 serves as a holder for a torch-forming member- T which may be of any suitable character such, for example, as disclosed in my pending applications Serial No. 719,640, filed April 9, 1934 and Serial No. 727,060, flled May 23, 1934. As herein illustrated, the torch-forming member T comprises an upper handle section 33 having a conical surface 34 disposed immediately therebelow. Depending from the conical surface 34 is a tubular stem 35 which receives a tubular wick member 31- having a rod 38 extending axially therethrough. Threaded or otherwise suitably secured to the lower end of the stem'35 is a cap member 39 which comprises a depending U-member 39a through the open passages of which, the lower end of the wick 31 is exposed as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5.

Normally, the torch-forming member T is seated in the tubular member 9 as illustrated in Fig. 4. When thus seated, the conical surface 34 frictionally engages the interior surface at the upper end of the tubular member 9 to thereby seal the outlet from the fuel casing through said member 9. When the torch-forming member T is seated in the manner shown, the lower end thereof is disposed within the fuel casing, the fuel readily passing to the exposed end of the wick 31 through the passages 91) of said member 9. In this manne the wick 31 is charged with a supply of the fuel stored in the fuel casing. If desired, the fuel casing may contain a tubular structure Ia formed of felt or the like, this structare-being disposed around the lower end of the tubular member 9 and forming a porous-wall chamber for the lower endof the torch-forming member T.

The operating parts are shown in their normal respective positions in Fig. 4. When they are to be operated, the torch-forming member 'I is withdrawn from the tubular member 9 and positioned as shown in Fig. 2 with the U-member 39a thereof seated in the depression lic formed in the upper end of the stem I 5a. The torch-forming member T is then pressed downwardly in substantially a vertical direction to move the operating parts to the positions shown in Fig. 5.

When the torch-forming member T is pressed downwardly, resultant downward movement is imparted to the member l5 which moves interiorly of the standard I3 and compresses the spring Ilia. During such downward movement of the member IS, the coacting slot lib and the member operate to prevent rotative movement of said member l5. Due to the described relation of the parts, the casing ll moves downwardly with the member ii. The sleeve l9, which forms an integral part of said casing II, also moves downwardly and the spiral sleeve slot l9a coacts with the fixed member 28 to cause the casing I! to rotate in a clockwise direction, Fig. 3.'

Such rotation of the casing l'l causes the pinion 23 to partake of a planetary motion as regards the flxed, non-rotatable pinion I8 and, accordingly, clockwise rotative movement is imparted to said pinion 23, Fig. 3. The ratchet sections 24 and are in clutching relation when the pinion 23 moves as last described and, therefore, the above described movement of said pinion 23 causes the serrated wheel 28 to partake of clockwise rotation, Fig. 3, while moving circumferentially with respect to the center of the pinion l8. It results, therefore, that the serrated wheel 28, while partaking of similar circumferential movement, is rotated in a clockwise direction, Fig. 3, whereby, by coaction thereof with the pyrophoric element 29, a stream of sparks is produced and these pass along a diverging path extending above the depression l5c of the member l5. Inasmuch as the lower end of the torchforming member T is positioned in this depression at this time, it results that the fuel charge carried by the lower exposed surface of the wick 3'l is ignited to produce a freely burning flame.

comes into engagement with the fixed member 20. Duringsuch counter-clockwise rotation of the casing l'l, rotative movement of the serrated wheel 28 is not effected. This wheel remains stationary at this time because the ratchet sections 24 and 25 are so disposed that they idle during such counter-clockwise rotation of the casing l1 and further by reason of the fact that the pyrophoric element 29 applies a braking or restraining force to said serrated wheel 28.

After the flame at the end of the torch-forming member T has served its intended purpose, such flame may be extinguished and the member the atmosphere and an additional charge of fuel is taken up by the wick 31.

It will be understood that the flame produced at the end of the torch-forming member T may be used for any desired purpose, such as the ignition of candles, cigarettes, pipes, etc. An especially advantageous characteristic resides in the fact that the torch-forming member '1' may readily be passed from handto hand whereby a plurality of difl'erent lighting operations may be readily effected. I

An important feature of my invention involves the arrangement for discharging a stream of sparks toward the lower exposed end of the wick 31. These sparks are produced continuously while the casing l1 passes from its upper to its lower position and, accordingly, the desired burning flame is more surely produced than would be the case if a sudden quick discharge ofsparks were relied upon for performing this purpose. In other words, the spark-producing unit and the ignitible object move together as a unit during the effective half-cycle of operative movement of said unit. During this entire half-cycle, sparks are being produced and these sparks, due to the great quantity thereof, necessarily perform their intended purpose.

It should also be noted that the spark-producing unit per se is of a novel and practical type. The arrangement involving the lever,v 30 and spring 32 biases the pyrophoric element into-engagement with its serrated wheel with nicety and precision.

It is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the form thereof herein disclosed. Certain characteristics of the invention such, for example, as discussed above, are considered broadly new and these novel characteristics, within the'scope of the invention,

may be exemplified by apparatuses oi widely dif.

ferent type from the one herein disclosed.

While the invention has been described with respect to a certain particular preferred example which gives satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a spark-producing device movable along a path while producing sparks, a supporting member for said device, and means for moving said device and member along said path, said means comprising a torch member adapted to be manually pressed into engagement with said supporting member.

2. In combination, a spark-producing device movable along a path while producing sparks, a supporting member for said device, means for moving said device and member along said path, said means comprising a torch member adapted to be manually pressed into engagement with said supporting member, and spring means for returning said spark-producing device and supporting member to normal position after removal of said torch member.

3. In combination, a spark-producing device reciprocatory in a vertical direction, a supporting member for said device, means for depressing said device and member, said means comprising a torch member adapted to be manually pressed into engagement with said supporting member,

and means for moving said device substantially circumferentially with respect to said. torch member.

4. In combination, a spark-producing device reciprocatory in a vertical direction, a supporting member for said device, means for depressing said device and member, said means comprising a torch member adapted to be manually pressed into engagement with said supporting member, means for moving said device substantially circ'umierentially with respect to said torch member, and spring means for elevating said sparkproducing device and supporting member to normal position after removal of said torch member, said device moving, in reverse circumferential direction during elevation thereof. 1

5. In combination, a standard, a spark-producing device, means for supporting said device for depression, elevation and rotation on and with respect to said standard, and means whereby sparks are produced during depression of said device.

6. In combination, a, standard, asupporting member reciprocatory thereon, a spark-producing device carried by said member at one side of the center thereof, and means for rotating said supporting member during elevation and depression thereof, said spark producing device moving circumferentially with respect to said standard during rotation of said supporting member.

7. In combination, a standard, a member mounted on said standard for reciprocatory movement only, a spring for normally biasing the upper section of said member above said standard, a supporting member mounted on said upper section of said first named member for rotatable movement only, and a spark-producing device carried by said supporting member at one side of the center thereof so as to move circumferentially with respect to said standard during rotation of said supporting member.

8. In combination, a standard, a member mounted on said standard for reciprocatory movement only, a spring for normally biasing the upper section of said member above said standard, a sleeve comprising a spiral slot mounted on said upper section of said member, means carried by said standard for coaction. with said slot to effect rotatable movement of said sleeve, and a spark-producing device carried by said sleeve so as to move circumferentially with respect to operating means comprising a torch member partaking of movement with said device, said torch member, during operation of said device, being positioned in the path of the sparks.

11. In combination, a movable spark-producing device comprising a serrated member and a pyrophorlc element, and means for operating said device to produce sparks, said means comprising a torch member which, during operation of said device, is positioned in the path of the sparks, said means comprising mechanism operative to eflect movement of said spark-producing device as a unit during production of the sparks.

12. In combination, a spark-producing device, means for guiding said device along a path, means for moving said device arcuately with respect to said path, and means for operating said device to produce sparks during movement thereor along said path, said operating means comprising a torchmember partaking of movement with said device, said torch member during operation of said device, being positioned in the path of the sparks.

13; In combination, a supporting casing, a spark-producing device, means for guiding said casing and said device alternately in opposite directions along a path, and means for continuously operating said device during movement thereof in one direction along said path, said device remaining in non-operative condition dur-' ing movement in the opposite direction along saidpath, said operating means comprising a torch member partaking of movement with said device. said torch member, during operation of said device, being positioned in the path of the sparks 14. In combination, a supporting casing, a spark-producing device, means for guiding said casing and said device alternately in opposite directions along a vertical path, and means for continuously operating said device during movement thereof in one direction along said path, said device remaining in non-operative condition dur ing movement in the opposite direction along said path, said operating means comprising a torch member partaking of movement with said device, said torch member, during operation of said device, being positioned in the path 0! the sparks.

15. In combinatiom-a wick, a spark-producing device, means forming for said spark-producing device a path which is circularly disposed with respect to said wick, and means for moving, said spark-producing device along said path while projecting sparks therefrom in the direction of 

